Transcript The Method of Geography - Nova Scotia Department of Education

The Method of Geography
Geography as a integrative
discipline
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Topics covered in geography can be looked
at from many different backgrounds
For example the study of acid rain can be
studied by biology, chemistry or
economics
It is the geographers job to blend all of
these studies together to form a
integrative discipline
Geographers look at the world in 3
different ways…
1.
As a distinct physical body called
earth (the planet as a whole)
2. Interconnected physical, biological
and chemical environments
3. The place where human beings live
Geographic Method
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Geographers are able to solve
different geographical problems
using this method
It is a series of steps used to analyze
a situation to find the best possible
solution
1.
Ask appropriate questions about the
problem being studied
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2.
Collect and acquire geographic info
that will help to answer these
questions
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3.
Where is it? Why is it happening? How is it arranged? What
process lead to its formation and location?
Through field studies, surveys, interviews, data collection
Organize, summarize and display
the geographic info collected
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Drawing maps, taking photos, making tables
4. Analyze and interpret you have
collected and summarized
- analyze patterns, historical comparisons, projecting future conditions,
comparing and contrasting different solutions
5. Formulate a reasonable answer to
the geographic question based on
your analysis and interpretation of
the information gathered
6 Concepts of Geography
1.
2.
Location
Where something happens
Can be very specific to very general (eg.
Latitude and longitude coordinates to east
of Bangkok)
Region
A grouping on information into a
manageable size
An area of land that has consistent, easily
recognizable features (eg. Costal region,
mountainous regions)
Can be defined by cultural traits
Scale and size of region will vary with
study (eg. Annapolis Valley vs. whole NS)
1.
Spatial Patterns
Many things geographers study can be
found in more than one region of the
world. This is called spatial distribution
Geographers want to know if these
distributions for spatial patterns
Eg. Location and intensity of air pollutionPattern 1- prevailing winds will push the
pollution in one direction making the
effects of pollution greater in that direction
than in the opposite. Pattern 2- the
amount of pollution will decrease as the
distance from the source increasesdistance decay theory
4. Spatial Interaction
- an event in one location can lead to a
change in another location some distance away
- eg. An oil spill will effect not only the water
it spilled in but may leak to other waters in the
area
- spatial interactions is not always
international, it can be on a local scale
5. Human/ Environment Interactions
- some spatial interactions can be made from
humans on the enviro or vise versa
- usually only on a local level
- eg. A factory releasing harmful chemicals
into the enviro or a tornado passing through a
community
6. Culture
- the customs and world views of a
particular people
- will effect the way people view the
world and the issues involving the world
- culture can be regional or
international (eg. The differences between
rural and city dwellers in NS or the
differences b/w Canadian culture and
African culture)